SEATTLE — Dorian Green walked off the floor at Moby Arena on Thursday and said one word to coach Larry Eustachy.

“Thanks.”

In Colorado State University’s second men’s basketball game of the season, a blowout victory over Chadron State, the Rams won the tipoff and immediately called timeout. Green was substituted for by Jon Octeus. The 9 seconds he was on the court dropped his season scoring average from 11 to 5.5 points per game, but more importantly the move kept his streak of consecutive starts — 98 games since his freshman year — alive.

This evening at the Univeristy of Washington, that streak will reach triple digits.

One hundred consecutive starts for the senior point guard from Lawrence, Kan., is a feat few Rams have accomplished, though the exact number is unknown as it’s a statistic CSU hasn’t kept up for some time. It was an impressive feat that almost didn’t happen after Green suffered a concussion against Montana in the season opener. But Eustachy felt honoring his senior carried a lot of importance.

“I’ve had players who start every game of their career. Guys like RL Horton at (Southern Miss) and Jamaal Tinsley (Iowa State), but it’s rare. Dorian is in a rare group of guys,” Eustachy said. “I’m never aware of if a guy gets another rebound he breaks the school record. But this is kind of special.”

Reaching this point was, in a way, a twist of fate for Green. Offered a preferred walk-on spot on his hometown team of the University of Kansas, he elected instead to become a Ram. He expected to backup Jesse Carr — then a sophomore — at the point. But a nagging groin injury to Carr put Green in the starting lineup and he instantly became a sensation, averaging 11.8 points and 2.5 assists per game as a freshman in 2009-10.

Joining Green as a freshman four years ago was Pierce Hornung, who also has been an impact performer for CSU. A force inside leading the Rams in rebounds, Hornung has his own theories to why his point guard has been so reliable for so long.

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“Dorian doesn’t like to play physical, so of course he can last a long time,” Hornung said with a smile. “I’m kidding. He’s just a consistent player and the most poised guy I’ve ever been around. You have to have a little luck to be so durable, but he’s earned it. All 100 starts. He’s been a great teammate and great leader for three years now. It’s soon to be four.”

Green’s overall play has improved each season, which has helped steady the Rams in difficult situations. As recent as Wednesday, it was his team-high 16 points that propelled CSU (3-0) past Denver. Tonight’s road battle against the Huskies (2-2) will be another instance when the Rams need him to come up big.

Washington has losses to Albany and No. 3 Ohio State and barely scraped by Seton Hall last week. Still, playing a Pac 12 opponent on its home floor is never easy. Led by senior guard Abdul Gaddy, CSU knows taking down the Huskies could be a statement victory.

As for Green, he’s just happy the ride to this point has been the adventure of a lifetime.

“Looking back on it, I didn’t think I’d play this many games or start this many consecutively, but it’s just been a blessing,” he said. “Just the teammates I’ve had and the progress we’ve shown. We’ve gotten better each year to the point now where we can beat anybody, anywhere.

“With the struggles we’ve gone through over the years, to be here now is the reward of hard work. I’m blessed.”